Is it a just a game fad or a great loyalty marketing?

Some innovative marketers are turning to location based internet marketing and using it to track and reward their loyal patron’s visits to their establishment through a growing number of mobile resources.

There are a number of applications that provide information and/or allow users to “checkin” (register) their visits to almost any location based on GPS features in their mobile devices.  Some of the applications reward the user with awards and badges and sometimes the user can receive free or discounted rewards from participating establishments.

The number of users is growing but its usefulness is still controversial. (more…)

Blizzard has lined up 12 webinars designed to improve your overall marketing strategy.

Each webinar is free and will run for about an hour. Sign up today, webinars fill up fast.

Join us for:

Diagnosing Page Speed Issues on Your Travel, Tourism or Hospitality Site
Thursday, May 6th, 11 AM MDT
With Google’s recent announcement that Page Speed is a ranking factor, find out how to determine how your site measures up!

Google Analytics 101 for Hotels, Resorts, Inns and Rental Managers
Tuesday, May 18th, 11 AM MDT
Learn the basics of Google Analytics setup, how to monitor, interpret and track your online ROI.

Google Analytics Advanced for Hotels, Resorts, Inns and Rental Managers
Thursday, May 27th, 11 AM MDT
You will learn how to use goals, funnel tools and advanced reports for tracking actions that improve ROI. (more…)

Watch this savvy little cutie use an iPad like a pro.

While this video is almost a year old, the data about Social Media is still astounding.

It’s worth a quick watch, and a dance party.

Thanks to Franklin at The Fox Hollow Inn for sending this our way.

With over 643 reviews on TripAdvisor, Schrute Farms in Honesdale, Pennsylvania has earned more recognition and positive ratings than some properties that actually exist.

DavidSabre from Scranton writes that “Schrute Farms beets the Hilton.”

While TripAdvisor may be the lifeblood of agrotourism, an article in the New York Times this weekend notes that not everyone gets the beet jokes. In fact, TripAdvisor has put up a message to “not book a visit here, because this fictional place doesn’t exist.”

So, do you think that ALL reviews on TripAdvisor are legit…?

Photo by Tauuro

Watching trends is searches is a great way to see what is on the minds of the masses. Back in 2006, the top searched terms in Google were mostly about this new thing called Web 2.0:

1. Bebo
2. MySpace
3. World Cup
4. Metacafe
5. Radioblog
6. Wikipedia
7. Video
8. Rebelde
9. Mininova
10. Wiki

Look how far we have come, here are the top searched terms in Google during 2009: (more…)

Facebook has been busy!  Following last week’s privacy settings update Facebook made another update yesterday and it is now allowing Google to index pages to serve them up in their search engine results.

If you don’t want your page to be indexed simply change your settings by going to: Settings –> Privacy Settings –> Search –> then UN-CLICK the box that says ‘Allow indexing’

Since yesterday Facebook has responded to the “misleading rumors” that Google will index all of your information with the pop up below when you go to your settings:

By “basic information” they mean some of your friends, what you are a fan of including products, places, websites and stores.

Our take is that you WANT Google to index your company page, so “allow” indexing, and if you don’t want your personal page to be indexed then un-click “allow indexing.”